Machine for making ribbed expanded metal



6. W. BAKER. MACHINE FOR MAKING RIBBED EXPANDED METAL.

4 SHEE'IZS'SHEET I FILED Dec; 27, I921.

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5 2 5 U 5, W Q s. 7 H. w 11 H S 4 Jan. 30, 1923.

. G. W BAKER.

MACHINE FOR MAKING RIBBED EXPAN 4 Fl LED DEC. 27 1921 G. W, BAKER. MACHINE FOR MAKING R IBBED EXPANDED METAL.

F: LED D56. 27. 1921 I 4 SHEETS'SHEETA George Patented Jan. 30, 1923.

UE'HED STATE 'FFHE.

PAEE

GEORGE W. BAKER, OF JEANNETTE. PENNSYLVANIA ASSIGNOR TO NORTHWESTERNEXPANDED METAL COMPANY. OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS. A CORPORATION.

MACHINE FOR MAKING RIBBED EXPANDED METAL.

Application filed December 27, 1921. Serial No. 524.881.

To ((7- whom. it may concern Be it known that I. (irEORUJi \V. BAKER. acitizen of the Fnited States. and a resident of Jeannette. county of'estmoreland. and State of Pennsylvania. have invented cer tain new anduseful Improvements in Machines for Making Ribbed Expanded Metal, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to machines for operating upon metalsheets that are previously cutor slashed to form longitudinally andalternately disposed slitted and unslitted panels or strips and whichmachines have means for expanding the slitted panels of the sheet as thelatter is continuously advanced. and preferably also have means torshaping the nnslitted panels or strips into strengthening ribs. Theinvention seeks to provide improved means for ex anding or ownin theslitted 1 portions ot such sheets into nnitorm diamond mesh. Moreparticularly the object of the invention to adapt such improved means toa machine for tornr ing ribbed expanded metal of the type shown in theF. S. Letters Patent of F. t. Arey. No. 1.318.953. dated October l-L.1919. The invention consists in the features hereinat'ter set forth.illustrated in the preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings andmore particularly pointed out in the. appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. l is an elevation of the expanding portion of amachine of the type set forth in the. above noted Areypatent and towhich the present invention is applied. the front wall of the expanderhead being broken away.

Fig.2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of Fig. l. I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail elevation of a portion of the expandermechanism looking in a direction at right angles to the plane ofmovement of the nnexpanded sheet. or in the direction of the arrow 3 inFig. t.

Fig. -l is a detail plan of theparts shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation and Fig. (3 is a perspective view of oneof the expan sion plates.

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail sections on the ones 77 and 88 respectively ofFig. 6.

The machine comprises a suitable base upon one end of which is mounted ahollow expander head 1. As in the machine set forth in the Arey patentthe expander head v side of the head. these guides being arranged inangular relation to the row of rolls 3 and in a correspomling steppedseries.

v The metal sheets. which are previously cut or slashed to term slittedpanels A and intermediate nnslitted panels or strips 1) (see Fig. 3).are fed on edge or in a vertical plane between the rolls 2 which are ofsufticient length to accommodate the widest sheet to be expanded. Eachset of the stepped series of rolls 3 project downwardly below the nextset and. while the ex ent of projection of the rear roll may be more.that of the outer or front roll of each set is equal to the combinedwidth of one of the slitted panels and one of the unslitted strips ofthe sheet. Preferably also the sets of rolls overlap in verticaldirection and are of such width that each set overlaps and cngages oneof the slitted panels of the sheetand the two adjacent nnslitted strips.

The guides or deflecting devices r, each of which comprises a front railand a back rail. extend respectively into snug relation with the lowerends otthe back and front rolls 3 of the corresponding set at thedelivery side of the bight ot' the rolls. rails of each guide are spacedapart to form a guide-way or pass disposed in a vertical plane andtangent to the front roll of the corresponding set. the guide-way orpass having a. width and depth which substantially correspond to thethickness of the metal sheet and the width of an unslitted strip orpanel respectively. I

As theunslitted' panels or strips of the sheet pass beyond the lowerends of the. rolls 3. they are deflected laterally at dift'erent pointsin the path of travel of the sheet into the parallel vertical passes of.the guides and the intermediate slitted panels are expanded. During thisoperation, as one of the unslit-ted panels passes the lower end of a setof rolls 3 it enters the corresponding guide if: while the adjacentportion of the u'nslitted panel next above is held between this set ofrolls and the next set before it passes into the next guide, and as twoadjacent unslitted panels enter the corresponding guides at differentpoints in their path of travel, the mesh sections of the slitted panelsbetween these parts are deflected laterally from the plane of the sheetand the slits are expanded or opened to form diamond mesh. The extent ofexpansion depends upon-the angle between the guides or deflectingdevices 4 and the plane of movement of the unslitted sheet regularshaped pieces 5-of hardened steel as it is advanced by the rolls 2 and3. Pref -erably this angle is about 30 degrees.

In accordance with the present invention, a series of devices orexpansion plates are provided for guiding or predetermining the paths ofmovement of the mesh sections of the slittedpanels as they are expanded.In the preferred embodiment shown, these guide ing devices or expansionplates comprise irarranged between the outer or front rolls 3 and whichare provided with fiat, vertical faces a tangent to these rolls. In theconstruction shown, the number of guides at exceed by one the number ofsets of rolls 3 and the upper expansion plate 5 extends between theupperset of rolls and the upper guide, which is disposed in horizontalalignment with the upper portion of the upper or lastset of rolls. I

Each of the expansion plates is wider at one end than the other and isso arranged that the lower edge Z) of its vertical face a, and also itslower face 0, extend upwardly at an angle from the lower to the upper ofthe twoirolls between which it is arranged. The vertical face a of eachexpansion plate is adapted to overlie and engage one of the slittedpanels of the sheet as the latterpasses beyond the corresponding set ofrolls 3. Preferably als'o each expansion plate is of such width that itsvertical face overlies the portion of the unslitted panel of the.

sheet that is engaged by the two adjacent sets of rolls, and the platesform in effect the front rails of a series of short guides arrangedbetween the sets ofrolls 3, the back rails 6 of which are disposedbetween the rear rolls of the series. It will also be noted that theupper expansion plate and the associated guide thus form in efiect anextension of the upper guide 4. The plates 5 and guides 6 are held inposition in any suitable manner, for example, by a series of verticalsupports 7 and 8 to'which they are secured. The supports in turn are secured to suitable ribs or lugs (not shown) cast upon the internal wallsof the expander head. Each plate in the form shown is cut it isremovably secured.

nae-ates are worn, the plates, as noted, are removably secured inposition. i

The wider end of each expansion plate 5 and the adjacent end of thecorresponding guide6 are curved to'fit against the faces of the lower ofthe two' sets of rolls between which they are arranged and the edgeportions of the vertical faces of the plates and guides adjacent theserolls are slightly rounded and serve to strip the portions of that'they'may be readily renewed when these edges the sheet which they engagefrom the rolls.

The concave end face of one of the end plates is indicated at e in Fig.5. The narrow opposite end of the plate IS CHt away as at f so that theplate can extend beneath the next higher front roll 3.

The slitted panels of the metal sheet are as usual provided with slit-sarranged in rows with bonds between the slits of each row and oppositethe slits of adjacent rows.

With this arrangement the slits in adjacent rows are disposed ininclined series, and each inclined series is adapted to be expanded toform an inclined row of diamond shaped openings. In Fig. 3, line 2?indicates an inclined series of slits, and in Fig. 4: the line 6'indicates an inclined row of diamonds.

The angling or inclination of the edges 6 of the expansion platescorresponds to the angle of the inclined series of slits of the sheet,and the rolls 3, guides/l and expansion plates 5 are so located that, aseach in-- clined series of slits passes over the edge I) of thecorresponding expansion plate, the

portions of the unslitted panels at opposite ends of a series will beengaged by the rolls 3 of two adjacent sets and deflected through the.corresponding guides at. The expansion plates .5, the co-operating guiderails 6 and the rolls-l thus holdthe mesh sections of' each slittedpanel in a'fixed plane and the successive inclined series of slitsagainst ex- 'pansion until each such complete series reaches and passesover the edge I) of, the corresponding expansion plate. In other words,the arrangement serves to hold each inclined series of slits againstexpansion until the expansion force can be simultanei ously applied toeach entire series. This arrangement prevents the sheet from slippingdown and causes the expansion force to be applied at substantially tothe plane of the unexpanded portions :of the slitted sna panels.tosuccessively open the inclined series of shtsol each panel one at atime. By thus applying the expansion t'orce simultaneously" to eachcomplete inclined series of slits. they are opened or expanded uniformlyand to a maximum extent as they pass over the edges of the expansionplates and a set is given to the expanded mesh.

As shown in Figs. 3 and at. an expanded panel of the sheet comprisesinclined strands a which extend between the marginal unslitted stripsand are connected to one another by substantially horizontal strands s.In Fig. 3 the diagonal and connecting strands are indicated by unshadedand shaded portions respectively. It may also be noted that the metalbetween two adjacent inclined series of slits forms a diagonal strandand one series of connecting strands. The present construction isdesigned to et' t'ect the expansion of the slittedpanels ot the sheet bybending the connecting strands s and without stretching the strands. Itis noted. to this end. that the rolls. guides and expansion plates areso located that the horizontal distance between the axes of two adjacentsets of rolls 3 and between the ends of two adjacent guides. correspondsto the horizontal distance between the ends of an inclined series ot'slits in one of the slitted panels ot' the sheet. and that the inclinededge 6 of each expansion plate lies along an inclined line w (see Fig.3) that intersects the vertical lines 3 at the bights of two adjacentsets of rolls at points which are also intersected by the paths ofmovement-0t the opposite margins of the corresponding slitted panel. Inother words. the diagonal distance between the points.at which twoadjacent sets ot' rolls register with the margins ot a slitted panel.and.which is indicated in Fig. 3 by line .2. is equal to the length of adiagonal strand or of a diagonal row of slits. and the edge I) of theexpansion plate lies along or coincides with theline .r and correspondsto the inclination of the diagonal strands and series ot} slits. \Yiththis arrangement each diagonal strand and each diagonal series of slitsof the slitted panels of the sheet pass simultaneously over the inclinededge 7) of the corresponding expansion plate and each entire inclinedstrand a is detlected from the original plane of the sheet by bendingthe .connecting strands 8. Thus the successive in clined strands andinclined series ot slits are held against expansion until they reachlines a. at which time the portions of the unslitted strips at the endof eachsuch series are deflected from the original plane of the sheet atlines 3 It is also noted that the edges Z) of the expansion plates aboutwhich the inclined panels of the sheet are deflected and expanded. arearranged inan inclined series of inclined steps that are verticallyspaced apart a sutiicient distance to permit the proper deflection ofthe unslitted panels about the vertical lines 1 In other words. theentire sheet is progressively deflected about a continuous line whichextends at right angles across the paths of movement of the unslittedpanels and at an acute angle across the paths of movement of the slittedpanels and whichacuteangle, as noted. corresponds to the inclination ofthe inclined series of slits in the unexpanded sheet.

As noted. the foregoing arrangement permits the expansion of the slittedpanels by the bending of the connecting strands and without stretchingthe metal. To prevent -the expansion from stretching the metal thestrands which merge into the unslitted strips. the intermediate panelsare angularly slitteth that'is the parallel rows of slits of the panelsare slightly inclined relatively to the longitudinal margins of thesheet as shown in Fig. 3. the angle of inclination being determined bythe relation between the transverse spacing ot the rows of slits and thelongitudinal spacing between the centers of the bonds. .Vith the slitsthus disposed each inclined series. which comprises a slit in each rowand is adapted to form a. diagonal row of diamond mesh.

are inclined in the same directon as the rows of slits but at an angleequal to twice that at which the individual rows of slits are inclined.It is also noted that. as indicated in Fig. 3. the sheet is fed into themachine 't'ected bv bending and without materially stretching thestrands. Moreover. after the deflection of the unslitted strips toeffect the expansion of the slitted panels. the strips are maintainedsubstantially straight in longitudinal direction and are not corrugatedor shortened.

Preferably the peripheral portion of one of the rolls of each ofthe'sets of rolls 2 and 3. is provided with annular ribs 9 and thecompanion rolls are provided with corresponding grooves which serve toform or engage previously torlned shallow ribs in the unslitted panelsor strips of the metal sheet. the ribs in the constructitm shown beingformed upon the trout roll of each set. lretcrably also the guides -land 6. additional guides 6 for the unslitted strips and the feed rolls 2are provided with similar ribs and grooves. By this means thedisplacement of the sheet from proper position by the force applied toexpand the slitted panels is prevented. The guides 6 for the unslittedstrips of the sheet extend between theset of feed rolls '2 and thestepped series of rolls 3.

gauge metal sheets having slitted and un-v slitted panels can b'e--efiected without stretching the strands.

Sets of rolls 11 are preferably providedat the delivery ends of theguides at and these rolls assist in advancing the sheets and also incompleting the shaping of the unslittedpanels into stiffenings ribs. Themachine may also be provided with additional finishing and straighteningrolls. Such additional rolls areset forth in the Arey patent abovenoted, which also discloses suitable means for operating the rolls atproper speeds. As set forth in that patent, the rolls 2 and 3 are drivenfrom the main shaft 12 through vertical and horizontal countershafts 13andl i' which are connected together and to the front or driving roll ofeach set by spiral gears. Also as set forthin the Arey patent, the tworolls of each set areconnected by spur gears and what has been termed astherear roll of each set. is journaled in spring'pressed bearings.

Changes may be made in the details set. forth and the invention appliedto different types of machines for expandingsheets have slitted andunslitted panels without departure from the essentials of the inventionas defined in the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for expanding sheet metal having angularly slittedpanels and unslitted strips, the combination with feeding means forcontinuously advancing the sheet and means for guiding and deflectingadjacent unslitted strips into different parallel planes with the stripsstraight in longitudinal direction .to thereby expand the slittedpanels. of a series of guides angularly disposed between the paths ofmove ment of the strips and over which the mesh sections of the slittedpanels are deflected and simultaneously expanded.

2. In a machine for expanding sheet metal having angularly slittedpanels and unslitted strips, the combination with means for feeding thesheet and parallel spaced guides for deflecting the unslitted strips tothereby expand the panels, of a series of expansion plates arrangedbetween said guides and over. which plates the slitted panels arelongitudinally and continuously advanced, said plates having inclinededges over which the mesh sections of the slitted panels are deflectedlaterally from one fixed v In Fig. 2, for the sake of clearness, onlyone such guide is' slitted panels are advanced, said p slitted stripsand at an acute angle across the paths of movement of the slitted panelsand a series of guides arranged to engage and hold the mesh sections .ofthe slitted .panels against expansion until they reach the inclinedportions of said line.

4; In'a machine for expanding sheet metal having angularly slittedpanels and unslitted strips, the 'combination-withmeans for feeding thesheet and means for'engaging the'unslitted strips at different points intheir paths of travel and deflecting them transversely of the plane ofthe sheet into parallel spaced planes with the strips straight inlongitudinal direction to thereby expand the panels, of a series ofguides angularly disposed between the paths of movement of. theunslitted strips and over each of which one of the slitted panels isdeflected from one fixed plane to another.

In a machine for expanding sheet metal having slitted panels andunslitted strips,the combination with means for. feedingv the sheet anda stepped series of guides for engaging the unslitted panels atdifferent points in their paths of travel and deflecting them out of theplane of the sheet into a series of parallel planes to thereby expandthe intermediate slitted panels, of a series of expansion platesarranged between said'guides and, over which plates the ates having aseries of angularly disposed edges arranged in an inclined series ofstepsand over each of which one of the mesh'sections of the slittedpanels is deflected laterally from one fixed plane to. anotherandsimultaneously expanded.

6. A machine for expanding sheets that arep'reviously cut or slashed toform slitted panels and unslitted strips, comprising sets of rolls andguides disposed in stepped series and arranged to continuously andlongitudinallyv advance the sheet and progressively deflect theunslitted strips about lines at right angles to the direction ofmovement of the sheet to thereby expand the slitted panels, and astepped series of guide plates for controlling the expansion of theslitted panels having guiding edges lying along parallel lines that areinclined to the direction of movement of the sheet and intersect theends of the lines about which the unslitted strips are deflected.

7. A machine for expanding metal sheets having slitted panels andunslitted strips, comprising sets of rolls arranged in stepped series,each set being arranged to engage one of the slitted panels-of the sheetand the two adjacent unslitted strips, a stepped series of guidesarranged to engage the unslitted strips as they pass the projecting.ends of the sets of rolls and deflect the strips to thereby expand theslitted panels, and a stepped series of short guides disposed betweenthe sets of rolls and each arranged to engage a slitted panel as itpasses from the projecting portion of the corresponding set of rolls andthe part of the unslitted strip passing between said set of rolls andthe next adjacent set, said shortguides having faces tangent to saidrolls and inclined edges arranged in a stepped series and over which themesh sections of the slitted panels are deflected and simultaneouslyexpanded.

8. A machine for expanding metal sheets having alternate slitted panelsand unslitted strips, comprising a stepped series of sets of rolls, eachset being arranged to engage'one of the slitted panels of the sheet andthe two adjacent unslitted strips, and a corresponding stepped series ofguides arranged to engage the unslitted strips as they pass theprojecting ends of the sets of rolls to thereby deflect the strips andexpand the slitted panels, said sets of rolls having ribs and groovesarranged to engage shallow ribs in the unslitted strips of the sheet.

9. A machine for expanding metal sheets having alternate angularlyslitted panels and unslitted strips, comprising sets of feeding rollsand guides arranged to continuously advance the sheet and deflect thestrips into a series of parallel spaced planes to thereby expand thepanels and a series of guiding devices having inclined edges over whichthe slitted panels are deflected and simultaneously expanded, portionsof the rolls and guides having co-operating ribs and grooves arranged toengage longitudinal ribs in the unslitted strips to thereby hold thesheet in position as the slitted panels thereof are expanded.

10. A machine for expanding metal sheets having alternate slitted panelsand unslitted strips, comprising sets of feed rolls and guides arrangedto continuously advance the sheet and deflect the strips at differentpoints in their paths of travel into a series of parallel spaced planesto thereby expand the panels, the portions of the'rolls and guidesarranged to engage the unslitted strips at the points of deflectionhaving 00- operating ribs and grooves for engaging longitudinal ribs inthe strips and thereby hold the sheet in position as the slitted panelsthereof are expanded. 1 GEORGE W. BAKER.

